12 Boston Celtics that never played a single minute
By Tyler Watts
5. Hot Rod Williams
Williams had an outstanding college career at Tulane, but charges of point shaving saw the program shut down for four years. Hot Rod was eventually acquitted. It still caused him to slip into the second round in the 1985 NBA Draft and miss his rookie season.
Williams started for the Cavaliers during the 1986-87 season and made an instant impact. He averaged 16.8 points, 8.1 rebounds. 2.0 assists, 1.0 steal, and 2.0 blocks in 33.9 minutes per game in his fourth season. It was arguably the best year of his career, and it earned him a new contract that made him one of the highest-paid players in the league.
Hot Rod remained a strong sixth man, but he never replicated those numbers. He spent a total of nine seasons in Cleveland before being traded to the Suns in 1995. The 6’11 big man spent time in Phoenix and Dallas. He played his final NBA game in 1999 at 36 years old.
The Mavericks traded Hot Rod Williams to the Boston Celtics in 2000 as part of a four-team deal. He was still owed $2.1 million, but never played a second in Beantown. Williams had a back injury, and the Celtics were happy to let his contract expire. The 13-year NBA veteran technically spent his final season in Boston, despite never seeing the floor.